BATTLING Tranmere wrote another chapter in their famous book of FA Cup giant-killing stories at the Reebok Stadium last night.

BATTLING Tranmere wrote another chapter in their famous book of FA Cup giant-killing stories at the Reebok Stadium last night.

Who cares that Sam Allardyce again fielded a second string side of kids and squad personnel. The history books will show for ever more that Second Division Rovers knocked Premiership Bolton out of the cup.

To be honest, as a spectacle this game wasn't a patch on some of the previous cup shocks against the likes of Southampton and Everton. Still, Iain Hume's wonderful solo strike in extra-time gave Brian Little's teama deserved victory.

It was a goal worthy of settling any game. The Canadian forward picked the ball up in the centre of the park and dribbled towards the edge of the box before curling an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

That put the self-belief back into a Rovers side who had come within seconds of winning this replay in normal time. The first 80 minutes were pretty forgettable with both sides guilty of too many misplaced passes. If ever a game looked like it would be settled by a single goal, this was it.

So the Rovers fans went delirious when Eugene Dadi found the back of the net in the 82nd minute. Gareth Roberts' cross from the left had rookie defender Charlie Platt all at sea and Dadi was close enough to capitalise, prodding home under keeper Kevin Poole.

It must be said, the travelling support was tremendous. More than 2,700 Tran-mere fans braved the wind and rain to cheer their team on. They consistently out-sung the home crowd. For Tranmere's players, it must have almost been like playing a home game.

That said, the Rovers army were silenced in the 91st minute when a late spell of Bolton pressure brought an equaliser. Per Frandsen had a shot cleared off the line by Ian Sharps, but sub Ricky Shakes followed up with an effort that deflected off Graham Allen and into the net.

It was a flukey goal which left many observers thinking this was not going to be Tranmere's night - until Hume took centre stage as the game moved into extra-time.

Allardyce said after the match that he was glad Bolton were out of the cup. Premiership survival and safe passage through to the Carling Cup final are his priorities. Judging by the paltry 8,700 crowd, the Bolton public clearly agree.

Last night he made 10 changes to the Trotters side that beat Blackburn in the league at the weekend. The starting eleven included several academy youngsters and a former postman signed from Bishop Auckland.

However, Danish internationals Frandsen and Henrik Pedersen, plus Greece's Stelios Giannakopoulos, brought with them plenty of experience, while the skilful Kevin Nolan came on after half-time.

Little shook up his team after Saturday's disappointing draw against 10-man Brentford. Defenders Sean Connelly and Paul Linwood were surprisingly benched, with attacking midfielder Gary Jones deployed as a centre-half.

It worked, as the visitors produced a workmanlike display to overcome opponents who struggled to gel. Jones had a particularly good game, as did Mickey Mellon and Ian Sharps, who was making his return from a hamstring injury. But Rovers best work came down the right flank, with Hume and Ryan Taylor linking up well.

Chances were at a premium for much of the game, however. Hume dragged a first half shot wide and after the interval the Canadian teed up David Beresford to crack a low one across the face of goal and force Poole into a diving save.

Later, a Mellon corner was headed down by Sharps and Danny Harrison - straight back into the team after a three-match ban and looking like he had never been away - volleyed inches over the bar.

That was as close as Tranmere got until Dadi's goal. In extra time, Hume nearly made it 3-1, but shot just over the bar following a short corner, and Dadi held off his marker to get a shot on goal, but Poole got down well to deny him.

The result could have been so different, however, but for keeper John berg's reflexes in the Rovers goal.

As early as the second minute he got a vital touch on a shot from Pedersen, who later beat the Dutchman with a thunderous free-kick which smashed against the far post. Achterberg made last-gasp saves in extra time at the feet of Ricardo Vaz Te and Pedersen to help earn the visitors another famous cup victory.

At the final whistle, the delight on the Rovers players' faces was clear to see. This was their first victory in five matches and what a confidence booster it was.

If they can beat Bolton at the Reebok, surely they can do it against Second Division opponents, starting with the visit of Hartlepool on Saturday, and continuing at Luton in the fourth round.